Boy Scout Sex Abuse Cases in Michigan Remain in Media Spotlight

Tawdry details of skinny-dipping and fondling are recounted in the latest summary of local scoutmaster abuse report files kept by the Boy Scouts of America.

"A total of 52 men . . . were accused of sexually assaulting Michigan Scouts between 1960 and 1985," the Detroit Free Press says after reviewing records released in recent months.

The Michigan cases reflect what happened thousands of times nationwide during those years, records show. Many of the men were professionals -- clergy, teachers, certified counselors and laborers -- and most were listed as having religious affiliations.

They were scoutmasters, assistant scoutmasters, coaches of horseback riding or marksmanship and adult volunteers.

The in-depth article follows an Oct. 23 roundup by Deadline Detroit that listed 62 Southeast Michigan reports by troop number, year and community. That presentation was developed from a Los Angeles Times national database.

Deadline Detroit interviewed Richard Fisher, executive director of the Boy Scouts of America Great Lakes Council, as did the Free Press.